Ferrender kirk



(Model.)

P. KIRK.

CORSET.

Patented July 6, 1886.

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FERRENDER KIRK, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,969, dated July 6, 1886. Application tiled December 8, 1885. Serial No. 1`5,08l. (Melel.)

T @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FERRENDER KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residingl at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a' new and useful Improvement in Corsets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in corsets,- and it consists of the peculiarconstruction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims. Y

The primary object of my inventionis to provide means whereby the corset can be ad j usted to be worn with the greatest ease -and comfort, and to give the form of the wearer a rounded or natural shape; to provide means whereby the connecting cords and other fastening devices that are used to secure the sections of the corset together will be hidden and concealed from view, the ordinary form of corset being objectionable in this particular instance, especially when lawn or other thin dresses are worn, and requiring a corset-cover to conceal the same; to provide a detachable shoulder brace or braces and a removable skirtsupporter, and to provide a corset which shall be simple and strong in construction, thoroughly effective for the purposes designed, and cheap.

-In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a corset constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line x x. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation. Fig. 4 is a detached horizontal sectional view through the meeting edges of the front corset sections, showing the clasps F connected together and one front edge overlapping the other.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates -my improved corset consisting of three sections, B, C, and D, the first two of which, B and C, constitute the sides and front, and the latter, D, the rear or back of the corset. The adjoining edges of the front sections, B and C, are provided with and connected together bythe ordinary corset- 5o clasp, F,which, however, forms no part of my invention, and the adjacent meeting edges of the sections are provided with eyes g, and

the straps I are provided with eyelets i, through connected together by adjnstingcords G, as shown. l

The free edges of the front corset-sections, B and O,are extended for a short distance loe yond the sheath and the corsetsteel therein, and when the said sections B and C of the corset are joined hy the corsetsteels interlocking with one another, the pliable edges of 6o the sectionsBand Clie or lap over the sheaths, and thus form plys H and H', one of which becomes an overlapping ply and the other an under-lapping ply, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, to completely conceal the line where the sheaths and their steels are connected together and thereby dispense with a corsetcover.v By thus forming the over and u nderlapping pl ys H and H integral with the corset they are not liable to become easily detached, 7o and the under and outer garments of the wearer are more effectually protected than if the sheathsf only are used.

The opposite side edges of the back section, D, of the corset is provided with projecting liaps D', which overlap and conceal the lacingcords G from view, the several concealing-flaps being made of textile or other fabrics and secured to the sections of the corset in any snitable or preferred manner. l The lower rear edges of t-he front sections, B G, of the corset are cut away toward their front edges, as at Z), and thc lower side edges ofthe rear section, D ,of the corset is similarly cutaway, as at d, these cut-away portions of the several sections ofthe corset commencing at a point above the hip and waist of the wearer, and insuring an easy and graceful fit.

I designates the adj listing-straps rigidly secured at one end to the lower edges of the back section, D, and extending across the cutout portions between the sections B C D, the free ends of thev straps passing beneath the sections B and C, as shown. Said free ends of which pass the cords I, and said cords are passed through similar eyelets, t', of strips or ilaps l2, which are secured to the inner faces of the front sections, B C. (See Fig. 3.) By means of these straps I and the adjusting d evices the corset can be accommodated to suit persons of different sizes, and insure a good fit.

The corset-clasps F are inclosed in shcaths IOO f, which are stitched to the front edges of the l side edges,so that the opposite side edge is free,

and when the corset-steels are connected together they and their sheaths are completely concealed and hid from view by the integral plys H and H of the corset-sections lapping over them, as is obvious.

J designates a removable skirt-supporter, which is preferably enlarged at its middle and tapered toward its ends, (see Fig. 2,) the reduced ends being provided with button-holes j, that engage buttons j', that are properly secured on or near the lower rear edge of the back section, D, of the corset.

K are shoulder-straps,to relieve the wearer of the weight of the corset and support her shoulders. The front end of each shoulderstrap has button-holes k, which engage buttons le', secured on theinner face near the rear upper edge of the front section, B or C, and the rear ends of each strap have two or more series of button-holes,'k2, which fit over buttons k3, which are sewed to the upper side edges of the back section, D, of the corset. By means of the adj usting-holes k" the straps can be adjusted to elevate or lower the corset on the person, and by means of the buttons and holes to the shoulder-straps and skirtsupporter they can be readily removed when the corset is to bewashed, and they can be readily kept in order and repair, the expensive buckles and various classes of fastening devices being dispensed with.

The upper ends of the front sections, B and C, are enlarged and expanded to it thc bust neatly and provide a support therefor which is easy to the wearer, and one or both of the expanded bust-sections are cut vertically, and the meeting edges of the cut ends are detachably secured together to provide a nursingcorset, to permit free access to the breast.

I do not desire to limit myself to the exact details of construction and form and proportions of parts herein shown and described, as

an embodimentV of my invention, as I am aware that many changes therein canbe made without departing from the principle of the invention.

the two meeting edges of the front section of 7o the corset, one of the busks of each section lying on the inner and the other on the outer face of the section. These busks are of sui.- cient width, so that they overlap the sheath in which the corset-steel is secured only, and thus expose to view the line where the corset-` steels are connected together; but in my device the protecting aps or plys overlap both of the corset-steels and their sheaths, and wholly and completely concealthelatter and the line where they are connected together.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Acorset having a sheath containing a corset-steel attached to each of the front sections of the corset, a short distance from the edges thereof, one sheath upon the inner surface of the corset and the other upon the outer surface, whereby the front edges of the corset-sections become the one an overlapping ply andthe other an underlapping ply to completely conceal the liuc where the sheaths and their steels are connected together, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the front sections, B and C, having the forwardly-sloping cut-away portions b, the back section, D, havingithe rearwardly-sloping edges d, the straps I, permanently attached at one edge to the rear section, D, of the corset and extending from the back section D across the spaces between the adjacent sections B and C, and having the eyelets z' at their free edges, the iiaps I, secured to the sections B C, and having the eyelets i', and lacing-cords connecting the straps I and flaps I, the flaps IZ and lacing-cords being concealed from view by the sections B C, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownl I have hereto aixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERRENDER KIRK.

Witnesses AUsrIN B. PRATHER, LESLIE C. FERRER.

IIO 

